.png)
This Fight is LARGER than US
- Kayla Willis
- May 29, 2020
- 3 min read
I write this with anger. I write this with hurt. I write this with disappointment.
As a young black woman, I constantly live in fear. Fear for myself, fear for my peers, fear for my race. The last couple of days have been a hurricane of emotions. I am numb. The numbness has taken my ability to cry, show my anger, and express my sorrow. I think about the men I love the most. How every time they walk outside of their houses, they too are in fear. However, this is a fear that has been passed down by GENERATIONS. My parents have this fear, my grandparents have this fear, my great-grandparents have this fear.
I am tired. We are tired. What brings us so much sadness is what is being done to us repeatedly. We need more than equality. We need EQUITY (the quality of being fair and impartial) and JUSTICE (just behavior or treatment). This fight is beyond the racism.This fight is about the improper treatment that other races in authority put upon Black people.
We need to do more than speak up. We have been speaking for over 100 years now. We are tired of speaking.
I have empathy for those in Minnesota. They are tired. They have the right to retaliate in every way they may feel. We put so much authority on the police, and they can not even have the decency to think about the value of our lives. Not in no way,shape, or form am I diminishing the work of police officers. Plenty of officers do not have this mindset, and are actually able to think about ethics or morals than the status of their power. However, when we are constantly seeing black men and woman being HURT,ABUSED, AND KILLED BY THESE OFFICERS, we lose hope. There is no telling what a police officer could do to me, my family, my friends, my professors, my pastors, my coworkers and my race.
This is why this fight is larger than us. It is more than just our lives at stake. We say #Blacklivesmatter because whenever our life is put into the forefront it is taken away from us right before our lives. This FIGHT is why my brothers and sisters bite our tongues whenever we see those blue lights, or are reminding ourselves to be on our best behavior every-time we see a police car or pass by an officer. The majority does not have to worry.
Black Men and Woman are consistently guinea pigs of abused white power. From the "Karens" to the "Black Best Friend" to being killed cold blooded in the streets or in our homes. We have never had our true freedom. Our opportunities have been belittled because of our white counterparts. Our culture has been snatched from us because of our white counterparts. OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM US BECAUSE OF OUR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.
It truly breaks my heart that another life has been lost. It is unfair. It makes me seem as if I am unworthy. However, I will not let anyone else tell me how much my life is worth. I know my life matters. I do not need to go to extreme lenses such as win a basketball championship or have five #1 singles or become president for the world to deem it as worthy.
To George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and PLENTY more,
We are sadden. We are angry. We will fight. We will not let them win. The system was never meant for us, and unfortunately you all's lives have been taken because of it. You all's name will be held with glory. YOUR LIFE MATTERED! And we will taken all means necessary to show the world that it does. You will not be forgotten.
This fight is larger than us, and we will not back down.
Please vote. Hold your officials (local, state, and national) accountable to the things they say and what they do. Alot of them do not have the best interest for us at heart. It is up to us to recognize.
If you would like to sign a petition, donate, support, please visit the links below.
Breonna Taylor
Breonna Taylor. Killed by 3 police, 8 gun wounds while they were doing drug raid in her own home. The primary suspect was already arrested. Louisville ( extremely racist), Kentucky
George Floyd
Killed on CAMERA during a protest. White Police Officer puts knee against back while he is exclaiming how he can not breathe. Does not care, does not move. Floyd proceeds to die.
Memorial Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
Petition for Officers to be Charged: https://www.change.org/p/change-org-the-minneapolis-police-officers-to-be-charged-for-murder-after-killing-innocent-black-man?recruiter=630211319&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf_combo_share_abi&recruited_by_id=60359dd0-a852-11e6-9d63-058fd32da49a
Ahmaud Arbery
Shot to death while running in neighborhood
Comments